Editorial: Library plan has merit

Thankfully, Pensacola and Escambia County officials are working to keep local libraries open longer. The library branches provide a vital service to many seeking a job, doing research or merely looking for inexpensive entertainment.

But like so many things government provides, there is a price tag. That's why it's good to see the governments working together to find new ways to fund the library system. In a story Thursday, reporter Nate Monroe points out a special taxing district, a Municipal Service Taxing Unit, could become a permanent source of funding. Though the county has had the authority to collect the money, it hasn't been used since the 90s, Nate reported. The council would have to agree to include the city in the taxing district. Through some shifting of budget items, any money collected would be offset by a decrease in property taxes, city and county officials have said.

Paying for the West Florida Public Library System has been a controversy for weeks. The city and county share the funding of the system, which some elected officials believe is an unfair split. Much of that controversy led to a decision to slash the hours of operation to all libraries in response to county funding cuts.

Now there seems to be a resolution and for that we are grateful.

Though still reduced, the city branches will be open for more hours. Under the new schedule, the main library on Gregory Street will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon for 4 p.m. Sunday. That's 56 hours, which is nine fewer hours than before the cuts. The additional hours will be paid by money left over from last year.

We appreciate the city finding a way to keep the libraries open and working to keep them funded. The value of a library to a community cannot be understated. With an illiteracy rate of more than 20 percent, it's vital to get books into the hands of children as quickly and as often as possible.

We share the sentiment of City Councilman P.C. Wu, who said the taxing proposal makes "an awful lot of sense." We also agree with Wu who said he hoped the new money source will stop the constant bickering over the library and how to pay for it.

The City Council is expected to consider the taxing unit at its meeting Tuesday. We urge the council to move forward with this plan.